How to Say "to surpass" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to surpass” is “superar” — use 'superar' when you mean to overcome a challenge, to be better than a previous performance, or to exceed a record or expectation in terms of achievement.
superar
soo-peh-RAHRsu.peˈɾaɾ
Examples
El atleta superó su récord personal en la carrera.
The athlete surpassed his personal record in the race.
El equipo superó el récord de puntos del año pasado.
The team surpassed last year's point record.
Su actuación superó todas nuestras expectativas.
Her performance exceeded all our expectations.
La demanda de este producto ha superado la oferta disponible.
The demand for this product has exceeded the available supply.
Comparison Structure
When comparing two things, 'superar' means the first thing is better than the second: 'A supera a B' (A surpasses B).
sobrepasar
so-bre-pa-SARsoβɾepaˈsaɾ
Examples
No sobrepases la velocidad permitida en esta carretera.
Do not exceed the permitted speed on this road.
No debes sobrepasar el límite de velocidad.
You should not exceed the speed limit.
El coche azul sobrepasó al camión en la autopista.
The blue car overtook the truck on the highway.
Tus resultados sobrepasaron nuestras expectativas.
Your results surpassed our expectations.
The Power of 'Sobre-'
The prefix 'sobre-' means 'over' or 'above.' Combined with 'pasar' (to pass), it literally creates the meaning of 'passing over' or 'passing beyond' a point.
Using 'a' with People
When you are overtaking a person or a specific living thing, remember to add 'a' after the verb: 'Sobrepasó a su rival' (He overtook his rival).
Overpassing vs. Just Passing
Mistake: “Using 'sobrepasar' when you just want to say you walked past a building.”
Correction: Use 'pasar por delante de' for walking past something. Use 'sobrepasar' when there is a sense of overcoming a limit or a competitor.
rebasar
ray-bah-SARrebaˈsaɾ
Examples
El número de asistentes rebasó nuestras expectativas.
The number of attendees surpassed our expectations.
El precio del alquiler no debe rebasar los 800 euros.
The rent price must not exceed 800 euros.
Su talento rebasa todo lo que hemos visto antes.
His talent surpasses everything we have seen before.
La demanda de entradas rebasó la oferta disponible.
The demand for tickets exceeded the available supply.
Abstract Limits
You can use this word for abstract things like 'patience' or 'capacity' to show that someone has reached their breaking point.
Superar vs. Sobrepasar Limits
Related Translations
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